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Study opportunities

Study opportunities

Ancient Oriental Studies

Degrees

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
Master of Arts (M.A.)

Requirements

Bachelor: English B1 at the start of the study programme and another modern foreign language B1 (until the start of the 5th semester), preferably French, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Arabic, Turkish or Persian or an ancient language, preferably Latin or Ancient Greek

Master: The general qualification for the study programme is the completion of a bachelor programme in Ancient Oriental Studies, a professional university degree in a comparable programme (ancient oriental studies, ancient orient, Assyriology, cuneiform script research, oriental studies or classical and ancient studies etc. with appropriate ancient oriental modules) or the completion of a bachelor programme with at least 60 credits (6 elective area modules) from the study programme Ancient Oriental Studies/Hebrew Studies. English B1 (or equivalent certificate), knowledge of another modern foreign language, preferably French, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Arabic, Turkish or Persian B1 (or equivalent certificate) or Latinum or Graecum

Description

The study programme in Ancient Oriental Studies addresses the languages, history and cultures of the Ancient Orient from about 3000 B.C. until the birth of Christ. Its geographical scope includes large sections of Middle East in the territory of present-day Iraq, Syria, Turkey and Iran and neighbouring countries. The major sources of Ancient Oriental Studies are some one million texts that are written in cuneiform script on clay slabs and have survived through the millennia. These cuneiform script texts represent the most extensive and ancient body of text in the whole of antiquity. The aim of the study programme in Ancient Oriental Studies is to acquire a fundamental knowledge of the languages, history and cultures of the Ancient Orient and of the methods of academic work in Ancient Oriental Studies, in particular philological text analysis and interpretation of cultural history sources. Ancient Oriental Studies is an extremely demanding study programme, calling for talent and perseverance in learning difficult scripts and languages, a real interest in history and the ability to empathise with cultures of the Ancient Orient, which differ greatly from our own in many aspects. In addition, the study programme introduces academic methods at an early stage. The high standard and orientation to research provide key qualifications for a number of professional fields (e.g. in the media or Diplomatic Service) and for university and non-university research institutions.